Description

My name is Nita. I live off the grid, 25 miles northwest of Fairbanks, Alaska. We offer tours with sled dogs, and aurora viewing. There is no public transportation and we do not go to town unless it's necessary, usually 1-2 times per week. Cell phones work most of the time. Internet access is very limited. There is no TV.
There is plenty of solitude, hiking, camping, berry picking, and enjoying the outdoors.

Type of help

Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

Living in a semi remote location in Alaska is an amazing experience. The Alaskan musher lifestyle is unique. Living with sled dogs in an extreme climate with beautiful landscapes and the Aurora Borealis or the midnight sun is like nothing else.

Host offers a wage in line with the minimum wage

Help

Living off grid requires learning to use solar power, conserving water and more chores in general than living on grid in a city or suburb.

Summer here means getting ready for winter. The work is physical but rewarding and in a beautiful setting.
Trail making and maintenance is hard work and safe use of a chainsaw is necessary. Firewood needs to be cut and stacked. Sled dog houses, fencing and gear need to be repaired and replaced.

Languages spoken

English

Accommodation

We live in a DRY cabin. This means we have no running water. Our toilet is an outhouse. Showers are in town once per week. We get water from town for drinking, cooking, animals, washing etc.

Day time summer temperatures are around 70 F, nights 35-50F.
Daytime winter temperatures are -20 to +40F, nights -40 to +20F.

What else ...

You must love dogs. They are the #1 priority.

We live 25 miles from town. Typically we go down several times a week but it's not guaranteed. There is no bus line, etc. You would be dependent on us for transportation.

There's lots of hiking, biking, and wilderness areas to explore.

If you love dogs, physical activity, solitude and wilderness you'll love it here.

A little more information

Internet access

Limited internet access

We have pets

We are smokers

How many Workawayers can stay?

Two

Hours expected

I spent an awesome 3 weeks stay at Anita’s cabin with all the dogs and a crazy view on the Alaskan range.
So many good memories ...
I came in March which is a really good season. Not too cold but the auroras still show up at night.
Anita is surprising, and I learnt a lot talking with her.
Helping with the dogs is really enjoyable but that… read more requires to remain focused and to pay attention to the details...
Wish I could have stayed longer...

You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.

(Excellent
)

11/04/2018

Left by Workawayer (Joseph) for host

Don’t hesitate if you want to go there ! It’s an unbelievable adventure with Anita (a really really nice person) for family, lot of dogs for friends, mountains and auroras for landscapes. Anita can help you in any point, she is really simple, no mask but a smile :) . The work is not too hard, you have a lot of time to listen the silence, a perfect… read more silence reign on this place... I don’t want to say everything for let you some surprises!
Thanks Anita for everything!

You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.

(Excellent
)

27/02/2018

Left by Workawayer (Valérian) for host

I spent 5 weeks with Nita in her lovely dry cabin between January and February.
This experience was amazing, the place is just breathtaking during winter and I cannot wait to come back for a summer in Fairbanks.
I’ve shared the work with Shaun, there for all winter, a really nice guy from NC who after this experience became a friend!
Nita is… read more inspiring, devoted in what she do and I’ve learned a lot about dogs listening to her.
She would always make sure you have everything you need! The place is comfy and warm (if you don’t forget to fill up the wood stove).
Be prepared to share your bed with dogs and enp up crushed or on the ground!
If you’re a dog person, this is the place!!
The work isn’t really hard but there’s a lot of stuffs to think about and it can take some time to remember everything! Even though, it’s always a pleasure to work for these 20 amazing dogs! I already miss them a lot!!!

You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.

(Excellent
)

19/09/2017

Left by Workawayer (Joanne) for host

I worked for Nita back in 2014 as one of my first travel experiences and it couldn't have been better.
I got there as the full autumn colours turned to white when it snowed on my second day. It is a beautiful spot and is as secluded as she describes. For me, that was a good thing.
I slept in the cabin with north facing windows which was both a… read more blessing and a curse as the Aurora was out every night so I didn't get much sleep as it was too beautiful not to watch! I went with Nita into town a few times to have a look around and experience First Friday which was great. She very much looked after all food requirements and shopping trips were fun!

I fell head over heels in love with every single dog she owns and had a few tears when I had to say goodbye to them all. Had I not already booked onward travel plans I would happily have stayed for the whole winter.
Thanks for a great stay Nita :)

You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.

(Excellent
)

04/08/2017

Left by Workawayer (Jen & Gregor) for host

This was an unforgettable Workaway experience, and if you are a dog person, you will be in heaven! We are so happy to have stayed with Nita and her awesome pack for three weeks this summer (we wish we had been able to stay longer). Nita is such a hospitable host, always making sure our kitchen ingredients were fully stocked and that we were… read more comfortable. Accommodations were in a separate cabin on her property, so we had lots of privacy as well.

Our days and tasks were varied but always included spending a ton of time with the 19+ dogs who are all loving and gentle, each so special with unique personalities. We miss them all, and it was hard to say goodbye. Some of our tasks included helping with summer tours, weeding the garden, clearing the wooded part of her property, digging trenches, helping with her mail route, and lots of poop scooping and spending quality time with the dogs. We even got lucky enough to be there to see Spook give birth to a litter of eight puppies which was amazing!

We hope to be able to come back someday soon, next time to see the dogs in action during winter! Thank you, Nita, for a wonderful few weeks. Hope to see you and your fur babies again! :)

You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.

(Excellent
)

02/05/2016

Left by host for Workawayer (Andrea & Eoin)

Andrea & Eoin are amazing! They are intelligent, talented, considerate, hard-working and a fun loving couple. I consider them as very good friends now and they have a standing invitation to visit with Sirius Sled Dogs.